Hi Dawn, Thanks for commenting. It's really all about being prepared and taking things calmly. I've collected so many swarms over the years with a range of results both positive and not so positive! Good luck with your Season's beekeeping. Stewart
This is great! My first bees I got was from a swarm. I had been studying honey bees for almost a year just getting ready. I got a call that there was a swarm and I couldn't pass up the opportunity. I always recommend to people when they tell me that they want to keep bees, is to learn as much as possible about them before they decide to take on bee keeping. Thanks again for the great videos!
I went back the next day and moved them into a full sized hive and added a feeder. They came out of one of my colonies that was just a few yards away so I knew they were healthy. Stewart
Hi Chris, Thanks for your comments, welcome to the world of beekeeping. Feel free to ask any questions you may have, alternatively join my Facebook group "Stewart's Beekeeping Basics" where they are lots of new beekeepers asking all manner of questions. Stewart
It doesn't matter how long you have kept bees but when you see a bee swarm marching in like that it gets your hart beeting well don that you got it before it flew away
Hi Stewart. Please help. I have had a case of supercedure and the mum swarmed. Followed your technique and it would have gone well had I not decided to leave the swarm in a box overnight. The following morning -Friday- I found the Q mum had escaped. I found her at the entrance of her original hive. I caught her - placed her in a new hive with a QE under the brood box to stop her escaping. Today -Saturday- O discovered that the bees have left the new hive and relocated to under the OMF of the one it had originally swarmed from. It is very awkward to get to them and brush them out into a box. What would you suggest as to the best course of action? Thanking you in advance for your response.
Hi Neeta, I had a similar swarming issue recently, what I did was to shake the bees that had gathered under the floor into a nuc box and moved them to another apiary. Do you have another location that you could take the bees to on a temporary basis for a few weeks so the bees can orientate themselves to a new home? Stewart
Hi Randy, I've never bothered to cage a queen in a swarm, they have always marched right in and stayed. I figure if they walk in on their own they will probably be ok. It's worked ok so far so I've never felt the urge to interfere. Of course, now I've put that in writing I'm going to lose one!! Stewart
I’ve got bees starting to make a nest in my gutter/eaves area of the house. There are just 4 or 5 bees/wasps swarming constantly at this point and only during daylight hours. I have a flat roof just 7’ ft. below where I thought I could make and place a hive. Not sure if these are bees or wasps and never done this kind of thing but would be interested in he;ping and possibly keeping bees. I have a bedroom and we window near by. if anyone out there could advise me I’d give you a share in the honey as I would be most grateful!
Hello, There are honey bees at the place I work at in the chimney. There are scum bag companies like swarm catcher who just kill these lovely insects. The best way is to just gather them and move them.
Very helpful. Literally just had the same thing happen with one of our hives. Reassuring to see someone dealing with this so calmly.
Hi Dawn,
Thanks for commenting. It's really all about being prepared and taking things calmly. I've collected so many swarms over the years with a range of results both positive and not so positive!
Good luck with your Season's beekeeping.
Stewart
This is great! My first bees I got was from a swarm. I had been studying honey bees for almost a year just getting ready. I got a call that there was a swarm and I couldn't pass up the opportunity. I always recommend to people when they tell me that they want to keep bees, is to learn as much as possible about them before they decide to take on bee keeping. Thanks again for the great videos!
Hi Jeffrey,
My first colony was a swarm too! It's such fun collecting them.
I'm glad you are enjoying the video.
Stewart
Looks like it won't be long till you have to give them a new hive. Great catch.
I went back the next day and moved them into a full sized hive and added a feeder. They came out of one of my colonies that was just a few yards away so I knew they were healthy.
Stewart
Great Video, very impressive. I am just getting into learning about beekeeping. Thanks Stewart
Hi Chris,
Thanks for your comments, welcome to the world of beekeeping. Feel free to ask any questions you may have, alternatively join my Facebook group "Stewart's Beekeeping Basics" where they are lots of new beekeepers asking all manner of questions.
Stewart
Why didn’t you shake the skep- swarm into the nuc.
Have you got frames of foundation in the nuc?
Thanks for the videos x
Can you tell me whether you need to spray syrup on to the board to encourage the bees in ?
Many thanks,
Anthony
Hi Anthony,
No need to use syrup at all. Keep it simple and marvel at how the bees organise themselves.
Stewart
Great vid (again), marched my second swarm yesterday up the ramp....
Hi Martyn,
It's always great to watch them climb into a hive. I never get bored with watching it.
Stewart
Interesting video. Thank you.
It doesn't matter how long you have kept bees but when you see a bee swarm marching in like that it gets your hart beeting
well don that you got it before it flew away
I can't help but sit and watch them every time. It makes me smile every time.
A nice big swarm too so I was glad to get them into a hive.
Stewart
Fantastic video, one question can you tell me where I can purchase a Skep from, please?
Hi Stewart. Please help. I have had a case of supercedure and the mum swarmed. Followed your technique and it would have gone well had I not decided to leave the swarm in a box overnight. The following morning -Friday- I found the Q mum had escaped. I found her at the entrance of her original hive. I caught her - placed her in a new hive with a QE under the brood box to stop her escaping. Today -Saturday- O discovered that the bees have left the new hive and relocated to under the OMF of the one it had originally swarmed from. It is very awkward to get to them and brush them out into a box. What would you suggest as to the best course of action? Thanking you in advance for your response.
Hi Neeta,
I had a similar swarming issue recently, what I did was to shake the bees that had gathered under the floor into a nuc box and moved them to another apiary. Do you have another location that you could take the bees to on a temporary basis for a few weeks so the bees can orientate themselves to a new home?
Stewart
Unfortunately not. Would that have been my only solution. xx
Great video Stewart!
Thanks Ma L.
Stewart
Thanks for sharing! Is there any reason why you didn't cage the queen temporarily just to get the bees to stay in the box?
Hi Randy,
I've never bothered to cage a queen in a swarm, they have always marched right in and stayed. I figure if they walk in on their own they will probably be ok. It's worked ok so far so I've never felt the urge to interfere. Of course, now I've put that in writing I'm going to lose one!!
Stewart
Thanks for the reply, I had just wondered but that does make sense.
Of course, the other reason is that most of the time I never seen the queen marching into the hive with the other bees!
Stewart
Stuart, do you need to feed the new swarm at all? Especially if your frames are new foundation?
Great Video! so well done! thanks!
Hi natserog,
Thanks for your comments. I'm glad you enjoyed it.
Stewart
There is a swarm of bees at my workplace on the floor. If i can get them into a new hive will i be able to move them to a new location. ?
I’ve got bees starting to make a nest in my gutter/eaves area of the house. There are just 4 or 5 bees/wasps swarming constantly at this point and only during daylight hours. I have a flat roof just 7’ ft. below where I thought I could make and place a hive. Not sure if these are bees or wasps and never done this kind of thing but would be interested in he;ping and possibly keeping bees. I have a bedroom and we window near by. if anyone out there could advise me I’d give you a share in the honey as I would be most grateful!
Does the queen automatically go into the hive by herself?
i have some bees coming and going, how do i get them to comeback with their queen ?
Hello, There are honey bees at the place I work at in the chimney. There are scum bag companies like swarm catcher who just kill these lovely insects. The best way is to just gather them and move them.